The Flea- poem analysis

Question 1

What are the key themes, attitudes and ideas in the poem?

Answer 1

Gender roles- dominant male voice
Playful aspect to the Presentation of the implied woman he is speaking to
Battle of the sexes- playful, not unpleasant
marriage/virginity/sex- arbitary societal values
Love

Question 2

What is the comedy present in the poem?

Answer 2

Word play- double entendre (eg. sucks, swells)
Bawdy humour- profane nature of sexual discussion
silly/witty argument (male voice)
Representation of ordinary people/conversional
absurdity/trivial (incongrous theory of comedy/laughter theory)

Question 3

What are some key language and structure features?

Answer 3

The verse form is often a restrictive, limiting form into which words and thought are compressed

The conceit= an extreme comparison made by the poet which is not obvious

Question 4

Where are contexts evident in the poem?

Answer 4

‘…As far as the business of courtship and sexual initiative was concerned..the male..would be
expected to take the lead’

The reader has to concentrate and pay close attention to the line of argument
The poem is structured around argument and persuasion
The poem demands both thought and feeling from the reader